STRAIT, First Lt. Matthew D.: Died 1942

STRAIT, MOFFETT

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 11/5/2013 at 09:27:22

Milton Army Flier Killed in Africa
**Handwritten: 1942

Milton.-First Lt. Matthew D. Strait, 25 was killed in an airplane crash in eastern Africa Sunday, August 2, according to a message received here from the war department by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. S.R. Strait of northeast of Milton. Details of the accident will follow later, the message said.

Lt. Strait was a bombardier in the United States army air corps. He entered the air service in May, 1940, taking his preliminary training at Santa Monica, Calif. He was graduated from a bombardier instructor's school at Lowry field, Denver, Colo., January 11, 1941. He later served as an instructor at Randolph field and Sloan field, Midland, Tex., receiving his lieutenant's commission at Sloan field about April 1, 1942. He was later stationed at air bases in Louisiana and Florida.

Lt. Strait was graduated from the Milton high school in 1933. He was a graduate of Parsons college, Fairfield, and a former teacher in the schools at Madrid and Lenox.

He is survived by his parents, two brothers, William C. Strait of the navy, who is attending a school for quartermaster signalmen at Great Lakes, Ill., and Maurice Strait, student in the naval officers reserve corps school at Notre Dame university, and one sister, Mrs. George Moffett of near Milton.

**Handwritten: MATTHEW STRAIT

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 312, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA